WARNING: Palin could beat Obamer

[Danno 1,228]

Howard Dean warns Dems Sarah Palin could beat Obama in 2012

By Alexander Bolton - 06/04/11 03:33 PM ET

Howard Dean, the former Democratic National Committee chairman who helped Democrats capture the White House in 2008, warns that Sarah Palin could defeat President Obama in 2012.

Dean says his fellow Democrats should beware of inside-the-Beltway conventional wisdom that Obama would crush Palin in a general-election contest next year.

“I think she could win,” Dean told The Hill in an interview Friday. “She wouldn’t be my first choice if I were a Republican but I think she could win.”

Dean warns the sluggish economy could have more of a political impact than many Washington strategists and pundits assume.

“Any time you have a contest — particularly when unemployment is as high as it is — nobody gets a walkover,” Dean said. “Whoever the Republicans nominate, including people like Sarah Palin, whom the inside-the-Beltway crowd dismisses — my view is if you get the nomination of a major party, you can win the presidency, I don’t care what people write about you inside the Beltway,” Dean said.

Dean spoke to The Hill the same day the Labor Department revealed the national economy added only 54,000 jobs in May and the national unemployment rate had risen to 9.1 percent.

Last month the private sector created 83,000 jobs, about a third the average for the previous three months.

Dean said he doesn’t think Palin will win the GOP nomination or would have the advantage over Obama in 2012. But he warned it is dangerous for Democrats to dismiss her.

Palin said Friday that she was "still weeks away" from making a decision about a presidential campaign.

“Anybody who gets the nomination could win the presidency,” he said. “Do I think she’s going to get the nomination? No. But that process is so difficult and really tests candidates in ways that no other process can."

Dean knows the rigors of presidential primaries first hand. In 2004, his unconventional campaign briefly put him in contention for the Democratic nod before the eventual winner, Sen. John Kerry (Mass.), pulled away.

“Anybody who survives the process can win the presidency,” he added.

Dean said Republicans made the mistake of underestimating Bill Clinton in the rest of the Democratic field in 1991 when former President George H.W. Bush seemed to have a strong advantage but the economy was still mired in recession.

“I can remember Bill Clinton, I think, was one of the seven dwarfs,” Cain said. “This goes on every four years and I think it’s best not to pay attention to that kind of talk.”

Bruce Cain, a political science and public policy professor and director of the University of California Washington Center, subscribes to the prevailing view that Palin would be a weak opponent against Obama.

“I stand with conventional wisdom that she’s way too flawed,” Cain. “Polls show that many women and independent voters aren’t happy with her.”

Cain believes the national economy must sink back into recession and unemployment swell to double digits before Palin becomes dangerous to Obama.

“If unemployment soars back up to double digits, voters will tune out any personal differences and be desperate for an alternative,” Cain said.

Dean thinks former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, Jr. ®, who recently finished serving as the Obama administration’s ambassador to China, would be the president’s most dangerous general-election opponent in 2012, a view shared by many Democrats.

“He is an independent. He is a moderate on some social issues and has a strong record as a governor and also has international experience that I think is lacking in every other candidate,” Dean said, comparing Huntsman to the rest of the GOP field.

Dean, however, doubts Huntsman, who has little national name recognition, could win the GOP primary.

Cain, of the University of California, said Dean’s view of Huntsman matches up with the conventional wisdom of many Democrats.

He says Huntsman would be especially strong in the general election if unemployment and growth numbers fail to improve.

“With Huntsman or a more credible candidate, Obama could be in trouble with unemployment in the 9 percent range and [economic] growth at one percent,” he said.

http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/164765-howard-dean-warns-palin-could-beat-obama-in-2012

[Ban Hammer 12,835]

thanks for ruining my weekend.

[^_^ 5,021]

... if you get the nomination of a major party, you can win the presidency ...

QFT.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

There are two issues with Dean's analysis:

1) Palin isn't running and is therefore in no position to get either the GOP nomination nor beat Obama

2)

[ScottThuy 140]

IMO Danny Devito would get more support at the polls than she would....

[thongd4me 69]

But if Palin wins, could she take Alabamer?

[Danno 1,228]

There are two issues with Dean's analysis:

1) Palin isn't running and is therefore in no position to get either the GOP nomination nor beat Obama

2)

I know it stings to hears someone.... so far left, someone with so much first hand experience draw a conclusion you can't grasp but , there you have it.

[thongd4me 69]

Could

beat Obama?

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I know it stings to hears someone.... so far left, someone with so much first hand experience draw a conclusion you can't grasp but , there you have it.

Well, he thought he could win, too. And again, Palin ain't running anything but Stop signs. There you have it.

Edited June 5, 2011 by Mr. Big Dog

[Danno 1,228]

Is it possible Ole Howard dean is saying this to add momentum towards a palin run.....

because he is in truth more worried a more electable candidate might take out Obamer?

[^_^ 5,021]

Is it possible Ole Howard dean is saying this to add momentum towards a palin run.....

because he is in truth more worried a more electable candidate might take out Obamer?

It is possible, but it is also true that in this (approximately) 50/50 country anyone on the Republican line of the ballot has a good shot at winning.

[Pooky 3,347]

Ummm ... basaltic?

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

It is possible, but it is also true that in this (approximately) 50/50 country anyone on the Republican line of the ballot has a good shot at winning.

Anyone? I don't think so. If the party fcuks up the nomination, then it can be impossible for their candidate to even have a shot. If the GOP were to send Trump, Newt, Santorum, Palin or Bachmann into the race, then that would be a clear indication that the GOP has no desire of capturing the White House. These folks are unelectable in a general election.

[^_^ 5,021]

Anyone? I don't think so. If the party fcuks up the nomination, then it can be impossible for their candidate to even have a shot. If the GOP were to send Trump, Newt, Santorum, Palin or Bachmann into the race, then that would be a clear indication that the GOP has no desire of capturing the White House. These folks are unelectable in a general election.

I disagree.

[thongd4me 69]

Ummm ... basaltic?

I think that's how Archie Bunker would say ballistic....

Basalt is a kind of rock...